After a thrilling jump-off in Thursday's $60,000 Pennsylvania Big Jump, Switzerland's Beat Mändli won with Grant Road Partners LLC's Galan S. Course designer Michel Vaillancourt set a challenging track at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS), which saw just five out of 24 starters move on to the second round. Mändli earned top honors with the only clear round in the jump-off.
"I think (Galan S) is the sweetest horse I've ever ridden," Mändli said of the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood. "He's so nice. Honestly, he's like a kid. He really wants to please. He doesn't try to do anything wrong. He always tries his best, and I think that's the best part apart from his ability to clear the jumps and do what we ask."
Beezie Madden, straight off a win in the $36,000 1.45m Harrisburg Sprint, was first in the ring for the jump-off aboard Abigail Wexner's Coach. They lowered a rail on the fourth fence, and the next two competitors misjudged the turn to the second obstacle. Mändli posted the first clear round, setting the pace at 37.59 seconds with one rider remaining. He ultimately took home the $19,800 winner's share of the prize money and the Second Cannabis Challenge Trophy.
"I went near the end so that was an advantage for me. The other ones made some mistakes here and there so I could slow down a bit," Mändli said. "(Galan S) is jumping (in Saturday's grand prix) and he has another two weeks ahead of him. He's going to Washington (International Horse Show) and we're practicing a little bit for that. ... We're trying to move him up this year."
Marilyn Little and Karen O'Connor's Clearwater were the final pair to jump off. They were quick across the ground but misjudged the first element of the double combination. Although they had the fastest time (34.32 seconds), a jumping penalty placed them second.